Naoya Inoue v TJ Doheny: Three Ways The Challenger Could Tame ‘The Monster’
On Tuesday in Tokyo, TJ Doheny enters the ring for the toughest fight of his career when he faces the undisputed super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.
Inoue (27-0-0 24 KO) is the overwhelming favorite to retain his WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles against Ireland’s Doheny (26-4-0 20 KO) in the headline bout at Ariake Arena.
So fancied is the Japanese pound-for-pound star that a defeat would go down as one of the greatest shocks in boxing history. Yet, the tough and durable Doheny is not fighting just to make up the numbers; he has genuine belief that he could be the first fighter to tame ‘The Monster’.
But where can he succeed where 27 others – many of them world champions – have failed?
Dohney Has To Let His Hands Go
There is no point in Doheny attempting to outbox Inoue as it’ll only end one way. The champion is too slick, too skillful, and too strong for the Irishman to try and take him the distance. Similarly, Doheny can’t enter the ring and be too conservative, thinking only of survival – because that, too, will only end one way against such a ferocious puncher.
That’s not to suggest Doheny should go in there and freewheel; he will need to be smart and focused and pick his shots. But if he is to have any chance of winning, he will need to apply constant pressure and try to stick it on Inoue.
Luis Nery showed in Inoue’s last fight that openings can present themselves. The Monster has a tendency to drop his guard hand while throwing a punch with the other, and the Mexican sent him to the canvas for the first time with a fierce left hook after Inoue lowered his right hand.
For a genius fighter like Inoue, he is likely to have worked on this weakness during his latest training camp, but Doheny will be aware that when a chance opens up, he has to take it and keep letting his hands go.
Doheny Needs To Summon All His Self Belief
The Irish fighter’s career looked in tatters just three years ago when his defeat to Michael Conlan in August 2021 was his third loss in four fights. He returned to winning ways by stopping journeyman Cesar Juarez but then suffered another loss to top contender Sam Goodman in March 2023.
Four defeats in six fights is hardly encouraging form, but Doheny has revived his career with three straight victories. The fact all of them were achieved in Japan will also give him confidence that he knows how to deliver in similar conditions.
Doheny will need to use all the confidence and momentum gained from his past three fights and channel it into his bout with Inoue. He will need to believe 100 percent that he can win, to have visualized the victory itself so there is no margin for doubt.
His recent run of victories will naturally increase his self-belief and confidence – and he will need bucketloads of both if he is to shock the world.
Hope Inoue Has A Rare Off Night
Make no mistake: this is Inoue’s fight to lose. Doheny has no physical advantages over the champion, with both measuring 5ft 5in in height, while the Irishman’s reach is only a half-inch longer. Inoue is also six years younger, and having taken far less punishment in his career, the much fresher fighter.
He certainly has no skill advantage, either, as Inoue is arguably the most complete fighter on the planet. The Monster can control fights at range or dominate from the inside; he can outpunch opponents through speed and volume or knock them out with power and precision; and he will be the one dictating the tempo of the fight with his use of movement and footwork.
All that said, Inoue is still human. In his last comparative “off night” almost five years ago, Nonito Donaire gave The Monster plenty of problems, refusing to back down when on the end of punishment and continuing to press forward.
Donaire, a four-weight world champion and all-time great, was levels above Doheny in terms of skillset but he did attempt to capitalize when Inoue was not at his best. The then bantamweight champion still emerged victorious on points and three years later was back to his best in the rematch to flatten Donaire inside two rounds.
Doheny will need to hope that Inoue’s motivation and focus are not optimal for a fight that even he will know he is expected to win comfortably. If there is the slightest bit of complacency, the Irish challenger will need to be in a position to take full advantage.
